Waist trainers, weight belts, corsets, girdles, fajas…these devices have many different names and have been seen across cultures and fashion industries for hundreds of years. Now they are circling back and frequently seen and used in the fitness and beauty industries for a multitude of different reasons ranging from low back support and protection, a promise for a smaller waist, better posture, and even worn underneath clothes as shapewear to enhance an hourglass figure. But do they work? Are they safe? How do you use them? Keep reading for information about how waist trainers are used in my Golden Method Training Program to enhance your beauty and shape.
First, let me remind you of the basics of my Golden Method Training Program so you can appreciate how reaching your goal of getting a better body simply boils down to math and art rather than countless sweaty gym sessions and grueling diets. The Golden Method Training Program uses the Golden Ratio numbers (link to Blog about what the Golden Ratio is HERE) to determine the best exercises for your body shape that result in the most visually balanced and beautiful physique you can achieve. In this program it is more about choosing the right exercises that target the exact muscles which create a more balanced feminine hourglass figure or masculine X-frame, both satisfying the measurements to achieve Golden Ratio numbers.
Beauty = Math + Art.
So back to how waist trainers are utilized in the Golden Method Training Program. It is necessary for the waist to be smaller than the hip and chest/bust to achieve Golden Ratio measurements. The eye perceives maximum beauty from specifically measured lines and curves which result in balance and symmetry. Waist trainers are a tool used to cinch in the waist and “turn off” specific muscles in the core during heavier weight training exercises that would otherwise be stimulated to grow along with the muscles being targeted in the exercise.
For example, during a set of heavy load barbell squats where the weight is placed on the back, the core absorbs the weight throughout the hip and lower body movement to stabilize the spine and prevent injury. The action of the core having to contract against a heavy weight load will cause the muscles to hypertrophy and grow, thickening the entire waist and lower back so the legs can handle the weight. While this is good for leg growth, the core muscles also grow causing the ratio between the waist and hip measurements to increase at the same rate – therefore it is impossible to create a bigger difference in measurement between the waist and hips because they will be growing at the same rate.
The waist trainer is a great tool to use to create a more drastic difference in measurement between Chest:Waist and Hips:Waist ratios. With consistent and proper use over time the muscles in the deep core do not enlarge while the muscles in the glutes and hips will, or whatever muscle you are trying to grow. It is not necessary to wear this device during times other than heavier exercises, or during prolonged periods of sitting to keep an improved posture. It is important to have a strong core, so these muscles need to be challenged frequently such as during regular workouts and normal daytime activities, but never completely shut-off due to chronic use.
